Australian Open 2022: Kristina Mladenovic and Ivan Dodig win mixed-doubles crown

Kristina Mladenovic and Ivan Dodig won the Australian Open mixed doubles title 2022 on Friday, January 28.

Kristina Mladenovic and Ivan Dodig Australian Open 2022 Mixed Doubles champions.(Source: Twitter)

France's Kristina Mladenovic and Croatian Ivan Dodig swept to a 6-3 6-4 victory against local duo Jaimee Fourlis and Jason Kubler to claim the Australian Open mixed doubles crown at Melbourne Park on Friday (January 28).

Playing under a closed roof on Rod Laver Arena due to rain, Mladenovic and Dodig got off to a solid start, securing a vital break at 4-3 before closing out the set after some big serving from the Frenchwoman.

Title town for @kikimladenovic & @dodigtennis

They defeat Fourlis/Kubler 6-3 6-4 to win the mixed doubles crown #AusOpen • #AO2022
: @wwos @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/SyeWnzdKjO

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2022

The Australian wildcard pairing were broken again early in the second set as Dodig's exquisite play at the net proved too good for Fourlis on serve. The 22-year-old, however, made amends right away and forced Dodig into an error to get the break back and level at 2-2.

Momentum swung back quickly to Mladenovic and Dodig, however, and they secured another break before a fine angled volley from Mladenovic gave the fifth-seeded pair their first Grand Slam title together. It was a third Grand Slam mixed doubles title for Mladenovic, while Dodig now has four.

"We texted each other many times to play mixed. What a way to end our first time playing together," said Mladenovic, who last won the mixed doubles at the Australian Open with Daniel Nestor in 2014.

"I didn't play mixed for a long time. To partner with Ivan... he's an amazing singles player, in my opinion. Now he's showing his skills all around the court in doubles." he added.

Dodig, who partnered Filip Polasek to clinch the men's doubles last year, said their styles suited each other. "I had the experience of playing with a couple of different partners. (Kristina) is playing very good from deuce, very good forehand. A little bit easier for me to adapt to her game. I think we are just a great match together," said the 37-year-old.